Introduction
Meaningful Dog Names in Pop Culture
In 1917, Private J. Robert Conroy of the United States Army found a small mixed breed dog with a bobbed tail hanging around Yale University in Connecticut, who he named Stubby. He is thought to have been part Boston Terrier, but that is not certain. Conroy smuggled the little dog on board a ship, the S.S. Minnesota when he was sent out to France even though dogs were not allowed. Stubby soon learned how to salute by putting his paw over his right eye. When the CO found out about the dog, he only let him stay after he saw him salute.
Sergeant Stubby started out as the official mascot to the 102nd Infantry Regiment of the United States Army and was then assigned to the 26th Division in WWI because he loved charging into battle with his troop. This little mixed-breed dog served in the military for almost two years and was involved in 17 different battles. He served in the trenches with the troops for eight months in France and was involved in four offensive attacks during that time.
In 1918, Stubby was injured by a mustard gas attack, which he recovered from quite quickly. The soldiers made a gas mask especially fitted to him, and he returned to battle again. A short time later, he injured his leg from a German hand grenade and had to have emergency surgery. During his recovery, he soon was running around the Red Cross hospital tent, cheering up the soldiers. After his recovery, this brave little pup went back into battle as he so loved to do. This time with two stripes for bravery from being wounded on his little Army jacket also tailored to fit him.
Stubby made an excellent soldier, keeping the soldiers entertained and lifting morale up when he was not in the trenches. But, when he was in battle, Stubby was excellent at warning the troops when there were incoming missiles due to his superb hearing skills and when he ducked, everyone ducked. He was also able to find wounded men that otherwise would have gone unheard. The commander of the 102nd Infantry promoted Stubby to sergeant after he helped capture a German spy by chasing and biting him, and he became the first dog ever to be named rank in the Army.
Sergeant Stubby was also the most decorated military dog ever, with a gold medal of bravery and two wound stripes among other medals. When Stubby passed away in 1926, still living with his buddy, J. Robert Conway, his obituary in the New York Times was 15 paragraphs long and is now part of the Smithsonian Collection on exhibit at the American National Museum of History with his coat, cast, and medals.
Meaningful Dog Name Considerations
Whether your dog is a teeny Chihuahua or a giant Great Dane, you definitely want to make sure the name fits them right, so you have to put some time into it. When we pick names for our human children, we tend to choose them before the child is born and then just hope that the name fits them as they get older. That is just the way it seems to be done most of the time for some reason. However, with your pooch, you can spend a few days, weeks, or even months getting to know their personality and attitude before you choose their name.
For example, is your new puppy a whiner who is constantly crying for attention? Baby may be a good name for that one, and you may want to try some behavioral treatment as well. And if your puppy is extremely intelligent, knows how to open cabinet doors and find the dog treats, maybe you should call them Einstein or Smarty Pants. Since your furbaby is going to be around for many years, you want to make sure the name fits them and is acceptable for other people to say. No curse words or profanity. Just because it sounds cute to you, think of how it is going to sound to others.
Male Meaningful Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
2 |
Xerxes
Greek for rising star
|
|
0 |
Buddy
Best friend
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|
0 |
Oscar
Movie award
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|
0 |
Chewy
Short for Chewbaca
|
|
0 |
Duke
French for second to the king
|
|
-1 |
Caesar
Julius Caesar
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|
-1 |
Levi
Hebrew for attachment
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|
-1 |
Gizmo
Adorable gremlin
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|
-1 |
Ruari
Scottish for red king
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|
-1 |
Wrangler
Great for herding dogs
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|
-1 |
Romeo
Famous lover
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|
-1 |
Odie
The dog from Garfield
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|
-1 |
Chief
Leader
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|
-1 |
Malik
Arabic for king
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|
-1 |
Denali
Fast, expensive car
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|
-1 |
Nitro
Explosive
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|
-1 |
Baron
Royalty
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-1 |
Zander
Guard of men
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|
-1 |
Rascal
Term of endearment
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|
-1 |
Cayden
Fighter
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|
-1 |
Spartacus
Greek warrior
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|
-1 |
Nero
Roman emperor
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|
-1 |
Rian
Gaelic for little king
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|
-1 |
Khan
Turkish for lord
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|
-1 |
Bronx
City in New York
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|
-1 |
Earl
Nobleman
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|
-1 |
Atticus
Famous philosopher
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|
-1 |
Regis
Latin for king
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|
-1 |
Chance
Good possibility
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|
-2 |
Valor
Brave
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Female Meaningful Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
0 |
Lily
Beautiful flower
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|
0 |
Trixie
Happiness or euphoric
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|
0 |
Sweetie
Someone sweet
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|
0 |
Muse
Goddess of creation
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|
0 |
Harley
Batman villainess
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|
0 |
Xena
Famous warrior
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|
0 |
Whisper
Nice and quiet
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|
0 |
Cupcake
Small sweet cake
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|
0 |
Sari
Noble
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|
0 |
Joy
Happiness
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|
0 |
Blaze
Burns bright
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|
0 |
Hershey
Delicious chocolate
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|
0 |
Athena
Greek goddess
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|
0 |
Mercedes
Expensive car
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|
0 |
Pepsi
A favorite soft drink
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|
0 |
Lovey
Term of endearment
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|
0 |
Bianca
Italian for white
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|
0 |
Zola
Means earth
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|
0 |
Skye
Breezy or airy
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|
0 |
Nyx
Goddess of the night
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|
0 |
Juliet
Famous lover
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|
0 |
Faith
Confidence or trust
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|
0 |
Candy
Sweet treat
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|
0 |
Ariel
The Little Mermaid
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|
0 |
Callisto
Greek for most beautiful
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|
0 |
Eros
Greek for love
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|
0 |
Siren
Beautiful strong female
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|
0 |
Pandora
The giver of all gifts
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|
0 |
Andromeda
Daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia
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|
0 |
Luna
Beautiful moon
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